The march planned for 2 April has been cancelled amid controversy about the political ties of the organisers.

Raymond Berry was yesterday revealed as being a founding member of the English Defence League. Although he resigned his role and other organisers assured the public that none of them had links to extremists, the gay group, Imaan, has claimed it has evidence to show other organisers had far-right and fascist associations. Mark Bourne, one of the organisers, responded to an email from Pink News by saying, “What some people see as ‘fascistic’, some people see as patriotic and that patriotism should be applauded.”

After the resignation of Berry, Outrage! withdrew their support for the event. Campaigner, Peter Tatchell, explained the decision: “OutRage! is not supporting East London Gay Pride, following the revelation of links between some of the organisers and the right-wing English Defence League. I have also withdrawn my personal support. We fear the march will be exploited and hijacked by the far right to create divisions and stir up intolerance against Muslim people.”

He went on to encourage a community response to the homophobic stickers which inspired the march, saying, “While defending the right of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex (LGBTI) people to protest against homophobia and the ‘Gay Free Zone’ stickers, it would be best if the march was postponed until a later date and organised by a broad-based grassroots and community coalition, untainted by associations with the EDL.”

A statement for the remaining organisers of East End Gay Pride blamed personal vendettas from OutEast and Rainbow Hamlets, along with other groups. They said, “These individuals have been attacking EEGP from the very beginning, even though OutEast and Rainbow Hamlets, along with Imaan and several other ‘community groups’, were invited to help create the event from day one.”

The statement added, “We would like to thank our supporters for standing beside us in these times and urge you to stand up against hatred within the LGBT community as well as hatred from outside of any form.”

Comments are closed.